News Room

Today, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans was honored by the Problem-Solving Court judges with the inaugural Judge Timothy C. Evans Justice Innovation Award during the joint commencement ceremony for the Mental Health Cours and Drug Treatment Court. 

This new annual award recognizes Chief Judge Evans’ decades of leadership in expanding Cook County’s Problem-Solving Courts and strengthening pathways to treatment, support, and accountability.

Today, in the lead-up to Veterans Day, our Veterans Treatment Court in Skokie held a successful graduation ceremony and welcomed the return of the Jesse Brown VA Mobile Medical Unit. The event reflected the Court's ongoing commitment to supporting veterans on their path to stability, recovery, and reintegration.

The Circuit Court of Cook County’s Veterans Treatment Court in the Second Municipal District will again host the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) on Friday, Nov. 7, in conjunction with a scheduled Veterans Treatment Court graduation ceremony. The MMU will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Skokie Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road, to provide eligible veterans with access to no-cost medical and social services.

The Polish Daily News provided coverage of the Oct. 24, graduation of the Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court. Read their story here: https://www.dziennikzwiazkowy.com/artykul/133432,od-rozgniewanych-do-szczesliwych-rekordowa-liczba-absolwentow-sadu-sprawiedliwosci-naprawczej-na-jackowie

The Cook County Chronicle shared our positive news regarding the Oct. 24 graduation ceremony at the Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court. Read their story here: https://chronicleillinois.com/government/avondale-restorative-justice-grads-get-second-chance/

Fox 32 Chicago provided coverage of the Oct. 24 graduation of 27 RJCC participants in Avondale. See their story here: https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1729950

WBEZ Radio included news of the Oct. 24 Avondale RJCC in their Oct. 24 broadcast. You can listen to the clip here: https://podcast-stream.wbez.org/newscast/2025/10/24/2025-10-24-T1600.mp3

Ahead of his Dec. 1 swearing-in as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge Charles S. Beach II, today announced the formation of two transition committees to guide a seamless leadership change and support the court’s continued service to the public with integrity, efficiency, and accessibility.

Zachary Christian dropped out of high school at 16 and never thought he would have to open another textbook. He had a job and didn’t feel like he needed any more school. Then, in May 2023, at the age of 22, he was charged with the aggravated unlawful use of a loaded firearm. 

Cook County’s downtown Marriage Court is getting a makeover.

Marriage Court will temporarily relocate to the Daley Center on Monday, Oct. 27, to allow time to remodel the current lower level County Building space with fresh paint, lighting, signage and flooring.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, today, issued General Administrative Order 2025-10, emphasizing the applicability of the common law privilege against civil arrest for individuals attending court proceedings in Cook County.

Shardaa Gray, of CBS 2 Chicago, covered the Tails of Redemption program during a recent visit to our Domestic Violence Courthouse at 555 W. Harrison. Here is her story: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/shelter-dogs-cook-county-jail-inmates-domestic-violence-courthouse-therapy-dogs/

Chicago – The success of Cook County’s Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCC) and Problem-Solving Courts continues to attract attention from other jurisdictions across the country, including a California county.

On Wednesday, the Circuit Court of Cook County is launching an online ePAY system for clients of the Adult Probation (APD) and Social Service (SSD) Departments. The online payment platform, created in partnership with the Illinois Office of the Treasurer, will make it easier for clients to make payments. It also will allow clients to track payment history and create personalized payment options, such as recurring payments, to assist with managing their finances. 

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, the Circuit Court of Cook County will transition its website to a new domain: www.cookcountycourtil.gov.

The new “.Gov” address reflects the court’s ongoing commitment to transparency, trust, and security. The “.Gov” domains are reserved exclusively for government organizations, offering the public a more official and reliable point of access to court information and services.

The Circuit Court of Cook County is required by state law to fill a vacancy for the office of commissioner of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to serve the balance of a term ending November 30, 2027. The court is accepting applications for appointment to the position, which is for one of three commissioners constituting the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

WBBM News Radio 780's Nancy Harty covered Wednesday's Drug Treatment Court graduation in Skokie.

https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/local/cook-county-drug-court-grads-get-convictions-wiped

CBS 2 Chicago visited Skokie's Drug Treatment Court graduation ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cook-county-circuit-court-drug-treatment-graduates-fresh-start/

Kalea Blanke had struggled with drug addiction since she was 14 years old, often stealing mail to fund her habit.

After getting in trouble with the law, the now 35-year-old Blanke was assigned to the Skokie Drug Treatment Court, led by the Hon. Michele Gemskie. There, she was offered a path to start over.

This summer, the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Domestic Violence Division, along with Loyola University of Chicago, brought together members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, victim advocates, supervised child visitation and safe exchange centers, and Partner Abuse Intervention Programs (PAIP) to help develop a continuum of services aimed at achieving long-term justice for families experiencing domestic violence.

The Chicago Tribune provided coverage of Judge Beach's victory in the 2025 Chief Judge election.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/10/ctc-l-evans-out-chief-judge/

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin provided coverage of Judge Charles S. Beach II's election to Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

https://www.lawyerport.com/chicagolawbulletin/charles-s-beach-ii-wins-cook-county-chief-judge-election-20250910

Injustice Watch provided coverage of Judge Beach's election to the Chief Judge position. The new term begins Dec. 1, 2025.

https://www.injusticewatch.org/judges/court-administration/2025/charles-beach-cook-county-chief-judge/

The Hon. Charles S. Beach II was elected today to a first term overseeing the Circuit Court of Cook County. Beach secured the victory by a vote of 144 to 109, with one spoiled ballot. 

The Chicago Crusader covered the recent first graduation class at the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court. Here is their story: Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court Celebrates its First Graduation Class

Cook County Chronicle's coverage of the inaugural Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court

https://chronicleillinois.com/government/restorative-justice-program-sees-first-suburban-graduates/

CBS 2 Chicago's Lauren Victory covered Monday's historic celebration of the first graduation class of the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/graduates-restorative-justice-community-court-chicago-south-suburbs/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

The Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court (RJCC), the first of its kind in the Cook County suburbs, will celebrate its first graduating class at noon Monday.

Sauk Village will celebrate 10 graduates at the noon ceremony, to be held at the Sauk Village Community Center, 2700 Kalvelage Dr. The celebration is open to the community and media.

A power outage, which closed the Sixth Municipal District courthouse in Markham on Tuesday morning, has caused cases scheduled to be heard at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and where parties were not able to be in court to be rescheduled, said Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Sixth Municipal District Presiding Judge Tommy Brewer.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans spoke at a SEED Court graduation August 5 at the Criminal Courthouse.

SEED (Supporting Education and Employment Development) is a deferred prosecution program that serves young adults, aged 18-26, charged with gun offenses or with selling or intending to sell illegal drugs. Upon successful completion of the program, defendants are eligible to have their court and arrest records expunged.